When we fall down from slipping or tripping on something, there is a tendency to brace ourselves for the fall, which happens involuntarily. You may stretch out your hand or try to put your arm out in front of you, and the result is that much of the impact is absorbed into these areas. This can help you avoid extensive damages to your ribs, internal organs, and other delicate parts of the body. But you can end up being injured in other areas, like your shoulder.
Some injuries to the shoulder caused by a slip and fall are noticeable right away, as you can feel that something is wrong when you try to move your arm. Alternatively, you may have some mild pain and discomfort in the beginning, but over the next several days, you realize that the pain is getting worse. Even more alarming, you are having trouble moving your shoulder, neck, or arms.
This is why medical attention is critical if you have a slip and fall or trip and fall accident. Otherwise, you could end up with loss of function and other serious health conditions that make is difficult to use your shoulders. As a result, your ability to perform basic tasks, like driving and typing on a keyboard, is permanently compromised.
If you are experiencing pain in your shoulders following a fall-related accident, you may need expensive medical treatments to heal from a serious injury. If your accident was caused by unsafe conditions on someone else’s property, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the property owner or operator. The slip and fall lawyers of Normandie can help you get justice for the harm you suffered, so contact us right away to learn about the option of suing for injuries caused by a fall.
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What can Cause Pain in the Shoulders after a Trip and Fall or Slip and Fall?
The shoulders are a complicated mass of bones, ligaments, muscles, and other underlying tissue. Thus, only an orthopedist can run the proper tests and make an evaluation on why you are experiencing pain in your shoulders. However, there are some common injuries that result in shoulder pain that you can sustain if you hurt yourself from a fall:
Dislocated Shoulder – If you stretch out your arm to break the fall, the resulting impact from hitting the ground can cause the joint to dislocate. Essentially, the bone in your upper arm will pop out of the socket, causing considerable pain and difficulty moving the arm or shoulder. In addition, the area is likely to be bruised and swollen, furthering adding to your discomfort
Rotator Cuff Tear – this is an injury where the tendons and muscles around the shoulder socket are torn from the impact of blunt force trauma, usually when you put out your arm as you fall down. If you have shoulder pain that’s accompanied by difficulty lifting your arm, there’s a good chance that you have a torn rotator cuff.
Fracture Clavicle – also referred to as a broken collarbone, this is a fracture that’s caused by excess pressure on the bone. These are very painful injuries that make it difficult to bend your arm, so please don’t wait to see a doctor if you suspect that your clavicle has been fractured from a slip and fall.
Shoulder Separation – an injury of the AC joint, which is the point between your clavicle and the highest part of your shoulder blade. If you land on the top of your shoulder from a fall, this is the area that’s likely to be injured. The separation occurs when the ligament holding the joint in place is torn or damaged, thereby causing the shoulder blade to separate.
Proximal Humerus Fractures – the long bone that runs from your shoulder and down to the elbow is known as the humerus, or upper arm bone. A fracture close to the shoulder joint in this area is known as a proximal humerus fracture. Symptoms that indicate this type of fracture include swelling and bruising, pain, shoulder deformity, and not being able to move the shoulder.
What is the Average Fall Accident Settlement Value?
The median range for slip and fall settlements at our office is around $250,000 to $2,500,000. For a trip and fall lawsuit, payments may be anywhere from $300,000 to $2,500,000. Keep in mind that these are estimates for cases of serious to severe injuries resulting from an unexpected fall. If your injuries are fairly minor, your case will probably settle for under $50,000. On the flip side, we have also had lawsuits where the victim was awarded $5,000,000 from the jury, due to the extent of their injuries and gross negligence by the defendant.
How Long Do Slip and Fall Claims Take to Settle?
On average, slip and fall claims against homeowners are settled within 4 to 8 months, though it can take 1 or more years to reach a settlement if you have serious injuries that require long-term medical care and extended time off from work. If the location of your accident is a commercial property, these cases often take between 1 and 2 years, though claims involving minor injuries may be settled in 6 months or less. If it becomes necessary to try your case in court, the entire process will probably take more than 3 years. But it should be noted that trials are very rare; around 95% of slip and fall and trip and fall injury claims are settled out of court.
If I Want to File a Lawsuit, What is the Deadline?
Normally, injury victims have 2 years to file a lawsuit if they fell down from a dangerous condition on someone else’s property. So, whether you fell at someone else’s home or a major shopping center, you must initiate a trip and fall or slip and fall claim within 2 years of the accident.
However, the statute of limitations is only 6 months if you fell due to negligence by a public entity, like a government agency or public school system. For example, you may have tripped over broken concrete on a sidewalk that’s maintained by the city. These injury claims must be filed at the city, county, state, or federal level. Alternatively, if you were injured on property owned by a school district, you will need to file a claim with the district, using their forms and procedures. Liability claims against the government are extremely complex, so please contact us and allow one of our attorneys to help you.
Talk to a Fall Injury Accident Lawyer
Along with medical care, legal advice is essential to those who are injured due to negligence or misconduct by a property owner. Our law firm is ready to advise you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so call us anytime if you have questions about suing for compensation as a slip and fall or trip and fall accident victim.
As one of our clients, you will be protected by the Zero Fee Guarantee, so there’s no need to worry about the cost of hiring a lawyer. All legal fees are added to the settlement we demand from the other party, so all of our expenses are covered as long as win your lawsuit. If we fail to win your case, we promise that you won’t be charged a single penny in legal fees.
To learn about the legal actions that are available to you, contact Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible.
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